A Bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Shree Chandrashekhar passed the order in proceedings concerning the obligation of private hospitals allotted government land at concessional rates to provide free treatment to patients from economically weaker sections (EWS).
Yatharth Hospital claimed that it learnt about the court proceedings only through informal communication and industry peers, and not through formal service of notice by the Court.
However, the Bench found that this assertion was contradicted by the Court’s office report dated April 22, which clearly recorded that the notice had been served.
Thus, the Court drew up formal contempt of court proceedings against the hospital through its Medical Superintendent and directed a reply to be filed within one week.
During the hearing, the Bench sharply criticised the hospital for disregarding a Supreme Court notice.
“All 52 hospitals received notice. This is not the way court notices are to be responded to. Sorry, but you (Yatharth Hospital) will have to be sent behind bars; jail is the only place for you. You are not responding to a notice issued by the Supreme Court. How will you treat patients belonging to the EWS? Look at the arrogance of this hospital. Sorry, we are not ready to accept this. You have to be sent to jail,” the Court said.